Cameron Tindle so close to Scottish junior record despite tight glute

SANDY SUTHERLAND

Only a gluteus muscle problem which required treatment before he ran may have prevented Cameron Tindle from becoming the fastest Scottish junior of all-time over 200 metres at the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Despite his niggle, the 18-year-old Edinburgh AC sprinter produced an excellent performance in the final to finish seventh in 20.82 secs.

Tindle had delighted his coaches Henry Gray and Bruce Scott by twice smashing his personal best to reach the final, clocking 20.78 secs despite a headwind of -1.5mps, in his morning heat.

That was followed by an even faster 20.71 secs in the first of three evening semi-finals, where he again had a tough draw and was back in fourth place with the first two in each semi going through automatically. After an anxious wait, Tindle claimed the second fastest loser spot.

The tight ‘glute’ may also have prevented him from sharing a possible medal in the sprint relay as he was withdrawn from the GB quartet which finished sixth in the final in 39.57 secs.

“I got away well and felt I ran a good bend from lane two, but I slightly lost my stride otherwise I’d have been on for a quick time and possibly challenging for a medal,” said Tindle, who is now fifth on the Scottish All-Time Senior 200m list as well as second on the Under-20. I came to Poland ranked 13th and have come out seventh with two PBs so I can’t argue with that.”

His coach Gray said: “It’s a fabulous effort by Cameron who’s young for this age group and only just misses being eligible for the next World Junior. He was only .04 outside David Jenkins’ Scottish under-20 record of 20.67 secs which has stood for more than 40 years.”